2 . 阅读下面短文,在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

The summer holiday     1    (come).My classmates and I are talking about     2    to do during the holiday.We can     3    (choice) between staying at home and     4    (take) a trip.If we stay at home,it is comfortable     5    there is no need     6    (spend) money.But in that case,we will learn little about     7    world.If we go on a trip abroad,we can broaden     8    (us) views and gain     9    (useless) knowledge we cannot get from books.Some classmates suggest we should go to     10    (place) of interest nearby.I think it is a good idea.It does not cost much,yet we can still learn a lot.

3 . We should pay attention to different customs in different cultures. For example, in America, if you are invited to a wedding, baby shower, bar mitzvah (成年礼) or other ______, you’re expected to bring a gift. Usually, it should be modest in _______, about $25.

For a ______, the bride will often have “registered” a list of gifts at a local department store, indicating the items she ________. When you buy a registered item, tell the store that you’re doing this, so the couple doesn’t receive the ________ gift twice. For a baby shower, bring a gift ________ for a newborn baby. For a bar mitzvah, bring a gift appropriate for a 13-year-old boy. Because they are such important occasions, gifts for bar mitzvahs tend to be more ________, for example, a lovely pen with the boy’s full name on it is very meaningful and will be ________ by him.

If you wish to give a gift to American friends, choose something that is ________ to your country. It needn’t be valuable or ________, just typical of your home land. Such ________ include a book about your country, an inexpensive souvenir, or something else that reflects the ________ of your country. Young children who like collecting will probably be very ________ with a set of your country’s coins or stamps. Items that are ________ in your country but difficult to find abroad are also good.

If staying with an American family, a good way of ________ your thanks is to take them to a form of ________, such as a basketball game or a concert.

When giving gifts to a business acquaintance, don’t ________ anything too personal, ________ for a woman. A scarf or a hat is okay, but other types of ________ are not. Something fit for the office is also _________.

1.

A．activities

B．gatherings

C．parties

D．celebrations

2.

A．size

B．value

C．weight

D．appearance

3.

A．festival

B．marriage

C．wedding

D．meeting

4.

A．prefers

B．owns

C．uses

D．imagines

5.

A．latest

B．best

C．same

D．similar

6.

A．eager

B．suitable

C．famous

D．expensive

7.

A．modest

B．cheerful

C．normal

D．formal

8.

A．appreciated

B．recognized

C．designed

D．refused

9.

A．convenient

B．beneficial

C．unique

D．typical

10.

A．colorful

B．rare

C．heavy

D．nice

11.

A．chances

B．conditions

C．goals

D．gifts

12.

A．character

B．interest

C．culture

D．progress

13.

A．annoyed

B．impressed

C．amused

D．puzzled

14.

A．limited

B．banned

C．common

D．priceless

15.

A．expressing

B．suggesting

C．offering

D．expecting

16.

A．education

B．discussion

C．exercise

D．entertainment

17.

A．choose

B．show

C．sell

D．write

18.

A．directly

B．particularly

C．skillfully

D．extremely

19.

A．clothing

B．presents

C．forms

D．equipment

20.

A．unsuitable

B．unreasonable

C．enjoyable

D．acceptable

4 . If Confucius(孔子)were still alive today and could celebrate his September 28 birthday with a big cake, there would be a lot of candles. He'd need a fan or a strong wind to help him put them out.

While many people in China will remember Confucius on his special day, few people in the United States will give him a passing thought. It's nothing personal. Most Americans don't even remember the birthdays of their own national heroes.

But this doesn't mean that Americans don't care about Confucius. In many ways he has become a bridge that foreigners must cross if they want to reach a deeper understanding of China.

In the past two decades, the Chinese studies programs have gained huge popularity in Western universities. More recently, the Chinese government has set up Confucius Institutes in more than 80 countries. These schools teach both Chinese language and culture. The main courses of Chinese culture usually include Chinese art, history and

philosophy(哲学). Some social scientists suggest that Westerners should take advantage of the ancient Chinese wisdom to make up for the drawbacks(缺陷)of Western philosophy. Students in the United States, at the same time, are racing to learn Chinese. So they will be ready for life in a world where China is an equal power with the United States. Businessmen who hope to make money in China are reading books about Confucius to understand their Chinese customers.

So the old thinker's ideas are still alive and well.

Today China attracts the West more than ever, and it will need more teachers to introduce Confucius and Chinese culture to the West.

As for the old thinker, he will not soon be forgotten by people in the West, even if his birthday is.

1. The opening paragraph is mainly intended to______________.

A．provide some key facts about Confucius

B．attract the readers' interest in the subject

C．show great respect for the ancient thinker

D．prove the popularity of modern birthday celebrations

2. We can learn from Paragraph 4 that American students___________.

A．have a great interest in studying Chinese

B．take an active part in Chinese competitions

C．try to get high scores in Chinese exams

D．fight for a chance to learn Chinese

3. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Forgotten Wisdom in America

B．Huge Fans of the Chinese Language

C．Chinese Culture for Westerners

D．Old Thinker with a Big Future

4. The passage is likely to appear in__________.

A．a personal biography	B．a history paper
C．a cultural newspaper	D．a philosophy textbook

5 . What Does the Length of Your Fingers Say About You?

Are you the peace-loving type or the ambitious go-getter? Your finger length might be a clue. Take a look at your fingers. Would you believe me if I told you that the length of your fingers in relation to one another can predict your personality? I know that it sounds like one of those silly tests you see on Facebook, but I have to admit that it is exactly correct for me. Here's how it works.

Look at your three middle fingers of your hand. Is your   index   finger longer than your ring finger? Is your ring finger longer than your index finger? Or are the two of the same length? Find the situation that best matches your hand and see if what follows is an accurate   description of your personality.

●Longer ring finger: The Sweet Talker

If your ring finger is longer than your index finger, research shows that you're likely a charming type, and you can probably talk yourself out of any situation. Others often find this personality type irresistible and will go to great lengths to help you. You're more likely to take risks, and you're good at problem-solving. People in this category make great engineers, soldiers and crossword-puzzle solvers.

●Longer index finger: The (Over) Confident One

If your index finger is longer than your ring finger, chances are you are full of confidence—possibly even to the point of being over-confident and proud. You are not necessarily introverted（内向的）,but you do enjoy time to yourself, especially when you're trying to complete a project. You are a dream pursuer who can make things happen, but you may be shy when it comes to taking the first step in a relationship. You are also probably happy with what you have, but you're always wishing for more.

●Index and ring finger are of the same length: The Peacemaker

If your index finger and ring finger are roughly of the same length, you are likely to avoid conflict at all costs and seek to keep the peace in your relationships. You are well-organized, faithful and sympathetic. But deep down under all of that caring and peace-loving, you also have a hot-tempered side that can appear unexpectedly when you're pushed too far. You will try your hardest to avoid a fight.

How well do these descriptions match your personality? I was surprised at the accuracy in     my case, but I'm not going to tell you which one it was!

1. Which of the following hand could be an engineer's hand?

A．	B．
C．	D．

2. What does the passage intend to tell us?

A．How accurate the description of the test is.

B．The length of fingers can reveal personality.

C．Why your fingers are not of the same length.

D．Personality is determined by your finger length.

3. Where can you probably find the text?

A．An official report.

B．A biology textbook.

C．A popular magazine.

D．A public advertisement.

6 . 假设你是中国某高中学生李华。请给你的朋友Mark介绍一个中国节日，包含以下内容：
1. 节日名字，时间；
2. 节日的习俗；
3. 节日的意义。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Mark,
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Yours,

Li Hua

7 . Bank holidays! We all love them!

A bank holiday is an English term for a public holiday. During the day banks and offices are closed and a lot of people have a day off work. In the UK, people only get eight bank holidays in one year.     1    

People in Colombia are much luckier. There are twenty bank holidays for the whole country in one year! And there can be even more, depending on which region(地区) you live in.     2     As in the UK, most of the bank holidays in Colombia exist for religious reasons.

    3     One such example is Independence Day on 20 July every year. This is just like Bastille Day in France on 14 July.     4     It is in memory of the day that Christopher Columbus, first reached America in the year 1492.

Bank holidays are very important for western people.     5     They may also choose to stay at home to relax and forget about work.

A．Bank holidays are different in Colombia.

B．During the holidays, they often travel with their families.

C．This is because different regions have their own holidays.

D．And at least five of those are around Christmas time and Easter.

E．Every country on the continent of America celebrates Columbus Day.

F．Another historical bank holiday in Colombia is Columbus Day on 12 October.

G．However, some bank holidays in Colombia came into being for historical reasons.

8 . These days, people who do manual (体力的) work often receive far more money than people who work in offices. People who work in offices are frequently referred to as “white-collar workers” for the simple reason that they usually wear a collar and tie to go to work. Such is human nature, that a great many people are often willing to sacrifice higher pay for the honor of becoming white-collar workers. This can lead to curious situations, as it did in the case of Alfred Bloggs who worked as a dustman for the Ellesmere Corporation.

When he got married, Alf was too embarrassed to say anything to his wife about his job. He simply told her that he worked for the Corporation. Every morning, he left home dressed in a smart black suit. He then changed into overalls (工作服) and spent the next eight hours as a dustman. Before returning home at night, he took a shower and changed back into his suit. Alf did this for over two years and his fellow dustmen kept his secret. Alf’s wife has never discovered that she married a dustman and she never will, for Alf has just found another job. He will soon be working in an office. He will be earning only half as much as he used to, but he feels that his rise in status (身份；地位) is well worth the loss of money. From now on, he will wear a suit all day and others will call him ‘Mr. Bloggs’, not ‘Alf’.

1. What does the case of Alfred Bloggs show?

A．That people often care more about the status of a job than the income.

B．That “white-collar workers” usually wear a suit to go to work.

C．That manual workers prefer to keep their jobs a secret.

D．That office workers earn less than manual workers.

2. What did Alfred Bloggs do for over two years?

A．He told his wife he worked for the Corporation, when in fact he did not.

B．He dressed himself as a dustman before leaving home every morning.

C．He lied to his wife about his job.

D．He earned twice as much as a white-collar worker.

3. What does Alfred Bloggs think of his new job?

A．He feels it is a pity because he now earns less than before.

B．He thinks it is worthwhile for his rise in status.

C．He is proud because he earns much more than before.

D．He is satisfied because he no longer needs a shower before returning home.

4. What’s the best title of the passage?

A．The Double Life of Alfred Bloggs.

B．Money or Status, Which Comes First?

C．The Story of Alfred Bloggs, a Dustman.

D．Truth Will Come to Light Sooner or Later.

9 . Looking for something entertaining to do? Check out some wonderful festivals around the world.

Koningsdag — The Netherland

Koningsdag or King’s Day is a national holiday in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is celebrated on 27 April (26 April if the 27^th is a Sunday), the date marking the birth of King Willem-Alexander. Orange is the national color, and the streets become a sea of feather boas (羽毛围巾) and body paint as crowds gather in the plazas and on the boats in the rivers. Amsterdam is the center of this outdoor party, with many live music events, but nearly every town is alive with orange on this day.

Thai National Elephant Day — Thailand

Thai National Elephant Day is a national holiday in Thailand. Thai National Elephant Day has been celebrated on March 13^th of every year since 1998. Because the elephant is the national animal of Thailand, it is highly respected and treasured. During the festivals elephant are honored during a ceremony (典礼) in which they are fed with bananas, other fruit, and sugarcane.

The Fire Festival — Shetland

On the last Tuesday of January the entire town of Lerwick, Shetland is in flames. At the festival, you’ll find yourself sitting, dancing, or stumbling around the largest bonfire you’ve ever seen in your life. The festival lasts only one day but takes the entire year to plan. Be prepared for an evening of singing, dancing, and fast paced activities, and don’t worry about making it to work next day — it’s a national holiday!

Holi — India

Holi, the Festival of Color, is a Hindu celebration full of joy and one of India’s most important holidays. On the last full moon day of the lunar month, usually late February or early March, the air is full of bright-colored powder. The festival is celebrated differently throughout the country, with bonfires and music, but the cheerful spirit is common throughout Hindu communities around the world.

1. The festival celebrated on March 13^th in Thailand is held to ______.

A．show people’s respect for their Queen

B．show Thai people’s respect for elephants

C．ask people to protect endangered animals

D．help people relax by singing and dancing

2. Why don’t people have to worry about working the day after the Fire Festival?

A．Because people are allowed to sleep at work next day.

B．Because the activities are too simple to get people tired.

C．Because people don’t have to go to work next day.

D．Because the festival ends very early at night.

3. Where should you go if you are interested in the Festival of Colors?

A．India.	B．Shetland.
C．Thailand.	D．The Netherlands.

10 . Each time Chinese New Year is approaching, preparations are underway around the world. Here are some Chinatowns for those outside of China wishing to mark the day.

London

Although it may not be as large or as long-built as others, having only become a center for the Chinese community during the 1950s, London’s Chinatown is perfectly formed little firework that knows how to see in the year with a bang. Decorated with red lanterns, previous years have seen shows with acrobatics（杂技）, martial arts（武术）,dance and opera nearby.

San Francisco

San Francisco’s Chinatown is perhaps the most famous in the United States. The city was the main entry-point for Chinese who had crossed the Pacific to the USA during the early 19th century. Between the Grant Avenue and the Stockton Street, this historic area is a local treasure, attracting more visitors per year than the Golden Gate Bridge.

Bangkok

With an about 100-year-old history, the Thai capital’s Chinatown contains complex streets offering all kinds of tasty treats, clothes, toys and antiques. Sunday market days are such a good time to get the full atmosphere of the neighborhood. The area is also known for its gold dealers, whose shops line the road.

Mauritius

Found in Port Louis, this Mauritian Chinatown shows the island nation’s rich multicultural diversity. Established in the early years of the 20^th century by settlers from China, its tiny shops and restaurants serve locals and visitors. During the Chinese Spring Festival, the most exciting sight is the Dragon Dances on Rue Royale when Chinese musicians and dancers perform the traditional lion dances through the streets.

1. According to the text, which of the following has the longest history?

A．London’s Chinatown.	B．San Francisco’s Chinatown.
C．Mauritius’s Chinatown.	D．Bangkok’s Chinatown.

2. What’s special about Bangkok’s Chinatown?

A．It is crowded with Chinese restaurants.	B．It is the major entrance for the Chinese.
C．It is well-known for its gold business.	D．It is when you can enjoy fireworks.

3. If you want to enjoy the Dragon Dances, you can go to ______.

A．Rue Royale in Port Louis, Mauritius	B．the Sunday market in Bangkok
C．the Grant Avenue in San Francisco	D．the Chinese community in London